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EDUCATION NEWS
EDUCATION NEWS UPDATES FROM THE CITY’S SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES
Concepcion has had an impressive footballing career
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TIME TO REPRESENT Author Sharna Jackson visited pupils at Henleaze and Whitehall junior schools recently to talk about her debut novel High Rise Mystery –set on an estate in South East London – as well as the inspiration behind the characters and where she gets her ideas for stories from.
BookTrust has arranged a series of Bristol school visits lately, featuring authors and illustrators including Jasbinder Bilan, Chitra Soundar, Zanib Mian and Sav Akyuz. BookTrust also gave away free copies of Sharna’s novel during her visit, from inclusive book publisher Knights Of. “The staff and pupils were absolutely brilliant,” said Sharna. “I loved the energy of the children. They were all super engaged and asked lots of insightful and fun questions.”
The visits are part of a broader initiative, BookTrust Represents, which aims to increase the numbers of authors and illustrators of colour in the UK and to support current authors and illustrators to reach more readers. Betty, aged 11, from Henleaze, talked about the importance of seeing someone who looks like you: “I like that she’s a black author. Lots of books that I have are by white authors which I can’t relate to. It means a lot that she looks like me.”
• booktrust.org.uk
THE GRETA EFFECT
Parents and carers recently came together for a community workshop from a psychotherapist, in partnership with Bristol Energy, on how to talk to children about climate change.
The free event at Bishop Road Primary School was led by integrative arts psychotherapist Jo McAndrews who addressed questions of how and when is best to navigate climate change with children, to avoid confusion and distress, and how communities can support children to become adaptable.
Parents heard how approaching climate change in an age-appropriate way can build a healthy relationship with the subject, encouraging positive action and equip the young to cope with our uncertain future. “More and more children and young people are aware that we are in an emergency,” said Jo. “Concerned adults are wanting to catch up and to know what to do for the best. The phrase ‘eco-anxiety’ is being used to describe the fear and worry people have about what is happening to the planet and how it will affect us. This anxiety is a normal and healthy response to reality, and those experiencing it need support.”
• bristol-energy.co.uk/5-top-tips-tacklingeco-anxiety
PLAY AND LEARN
A former Arsenal and Spanish international footballer – Concepcion Sanchez-Freire – is opening the first holistic school for soccer and modern languages in Bristol this month, in association with Bristol’s Badminton School.
Integrating both modern languages and football skills within a unique and innovative programme, Dolphin Play Soccer & Languages will offer an opportunity for girls and boys between the ages of three and 14 years to learn new languages (Spanish, Italian and English) while playing football and other sports.
Concepcion Sanchez-Freire, also known as Conchi Amancio, was the first captain of Spain’s national women’s team in 1972, following its foundation. She was called to play for Lazio, Italy, at the age of 15, winning 17 premier league titles, scoring over 600 goals and becoming a futsal champion. Concepcion finished her career with Arsenal Ladies and was known as “a powerful technical player with a first-class attitude towards training,” according to Vic Acers, former Arsenal Ladies manager.
Concepcion is an inspirational teacher of languages, a holistic family therapist and a highly creative technical football coach, and from April until August, she will be running one-to-one masterclasses and small group classes for children aged seven to 14 years, within Bristol and surrounding areas. Children aged two to seven years are welcome to join the classes, which are due to be held at Badminton School in Westbury-on-Trym at 3pm on Sundays.
• For more information, visit dolphinplaylanguages.com or email fun@dolphinplaylanguages.com
Nice one, Badminton!
CONGRATULATIONS!
Sixth Form pupils at Badminton School have obtained outstanding Extended Project Qualification results, with 16 out of 19 achieving an A* or A Grade. “This achievement flags their readiness for the next step of their educational journey,” said headmistress Mrs Tear. “We value these largely self-directed projects and students enjoy having the agency in their own learning to choose their topic of interest. They relish planning and developing their idea into a finished product, be it a report, an event, or a piece of artwork.” The EPQ is valued by universities because it provides students with research and finished product, be it a report, an event, or a piece of artwork.” The EPQ is valued by universities because it provides students with research and academic skills and experience for advanced study. Topics ranged from the effect of dark matter on the universe to surrealist art and antibodies.
LEARNING VALUABLE SKILLS IN A CHANGING WORLD
Budding entrepreneurs of the future are learning valuable skills at Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools.
As part of the Young Enterprise initiative, the Sixth Form students have been building the life skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the changing world of work.
The dynamic teenagers have created eco-friendly companies and will be displaying their products at the Welsh finals near Cardiff on 30th April.
Mentored by professional consultants from industry, the Monmouth students have grown in confidence throughout the year.
Monmouth has a strong tradition in this business competition and the current crop of students will be hoping to celebrate yet another Welsh triumph in the secondary schools’ section.
One group, in particular, has relished the opportunity to use its own initiative and believe it has spotted a gap in the market for an exciting product.
Joe Harris, a student at Monmouth School for Boys, says: “Every minute more than one million plastic bottles are sold across the world but less than 10 per cent of these are recyclable.
“We are making recyclable lids to attach to drinks cans with the aim of reducing fizz loss and spillage, preventing spiking and keeping insects, dust and dirt out.”
And Rhiannon Srodzinski, a student at Monmouth School for Girls, says: “Our can lid is made from 100 per cent recyclable material and, because it is sealable, we believe it is an exciting and realistic eco-friendly alternative to using plastic bottles.”
The students are currently writing a company report on their businesses complete with financial accounts; designing and building a trade stand to promote their businesses; preparing for an interview with a panel of judges and putting together a presentation for the finals. n
For information about our Open Days on Saturday 16th May, please visit: www.habsmonmouth.org/opendays or call 01600 711104 for Monmouth School for Girls, or 01600 710433 for Monmouth School for Boys.
*The schools have an established bus route covering the Thornbury area.
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